Rigel Rising

Stage 16- The Beginning

"No way!"

Trey summed up our reaction when we finally arrived at the other end of the military facility where the Rigel is currently docked for repairs.

Even Candice and Cailee, who are usually not taken aback by anything, failed to say anything, while Mariana and Drew just shook their heads in disbelief.

"You are the very first foreigners to lay eyes on our fleet, so consider it an honor," Admiral Kit said proudly, and I can't blame him for acting like that.

We are looking at several hundreds of spaceships lined up neatly across the vast metallic cavern, all brand new and ready to be deployed at a moment's notice.

"You are all looking at the Dugong Class- Battlecruisers and the Manatee Class- Frigates. Indigenously made by Baldur in this very facility and produced quietly for almost half a decade now, they are our assurance that the empire and kingdom will think twice before trampling our sovereignty and the honor of our Grand Princess."

Mariana stepped forward to get a batter look at the ship, "Wait, why do they look like the Rigel?"

"What are you talking about, dear?" Candice asked, but she gasped when she decided to look closely, "Wait a minute, you are right. A bit on the bulkier side with less than cat-like features and more of a marine creature-inspired. But I can clearly see the resemblance."

"What she said," Cailee agreed utterly, "The battlecruisers are lightly armed compared to our ship, but the weapon placements and overall design are too similar to be a coincidence! Look at the engine location of the frigates!"

Drew looked in the direction of the grinning young admiral with his eyebrows raised, "Why does the Rigel resemble your ships, admiral?"

"Resemble our ship? Oh, no, it's the opposite, actually. The Dugong and Manatee resemble Rigel in all intents and purposes," but before I can even speak, he raised his hand to quiet us all down, "Onto business. We didn't take you in just because the Crown Princess was aboard your ship. We can just send you all away with guns pointed at your backs after we secured her, but we didn't. Instead, we even offered you all sanctuary, repair and service your ship and treat you as guests. Ever wondered why?"

"You need something from us," I answered plainly that made him nod at me approvingly, "Not our ship, I hope?"

He quickly shook his head and chuckle a little, "Oh, not that old prototype. We don't have any need for it. No, there is someone far more valuable than that unstable and deadly ship that we have our eyes on."

"It's our captain, right?"

We all look at Trey, who interjected after seeing the failed test launch of one of the frigates in a simulation near him where several officers are training for command and control of the ship.

"Yes," Admiral Kit answered simply that made me gasp while Mariana, Cailee, Candice, and Drew are not surprised at all, "We took the liberty to open the black box of the Rigel, and we saw how in Gearth a single, unpredictable prototype of a ship managed not only to destroy an entire armada but to survive against all odds. As expected, it is not the Panthera that managed to save you all. It's him."

He looked at me pointedly as my second in command raise an eyebrow, "Now I finally know why you welcomed us with open arms when you can just hand us over to the empire or kingdom in exchange for preferential treaties and trade agreements."

"You want our captain's data and guidance on how to properly commandeer your spaceships," Cailee followed scathingly as the admiral shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly before looking at the vessels behind him.

"It is what it is. Baldurians never really like conflicts. We prefer diplomacy above all. But the era has changed. There are a lot of times when we must shut up and fight instead. Sadly, our people are not as good as the Regainlanders and Veralians in the art of war."

Drew snorted, "Well, Justice, I mean, your princess tells a whole different story."

"She is a unique one, and I am not in the position to tell you all why. But back to our topic at hand, in exchange for our generosity, we want Captain Caerus Finis to give us all the data, knowledge, and skills that he possesses so we can at least get our spaceship airborne without a problem for once."

"And if I refuse?" I asked quietly as he looked at me straight into the eyes.

"I don't think I have to say out loud the repercussions of rejecting the generosity our Grand Princess has extended upon you all despite the dangers of harboring your ship. You are all well inside our territory, and we can do anything we want with you, so might I suggest that you all stay in our good graces for as long as possible. We may be weaker than the kingdom, but we didn't survive this long as an independent nation sandwiched between Regeinland and Veralia by simply wagging our tongues..."

I took a deep breath and sighed, "Very well, Admiral Kit. You drive a hard bargain. Might I also ask for you to allow my crew to explore the principality? We have been fighting for our lives for a while now, and I want them to at least relax and enjoy what your nation has to offer."

"Granted, Captain Caerus. But might I suggest that you all lay low and use aliases when you wander about our nation? We have imperials arriving this week for a large social gathering, and technically speaking, you are not here in Baldur. Is that clear?"

I turn around and look at my comrades, who all nodded in agreement as they defer to my judgment.

"Cheers, admiral."

-0-

Compared to the sleek and futuristic skyscrapers of the kingdom, the architecture of the principality is far from its level, yet the trappings of wealth and prosperity are more than enough to make it alluring and beautiful.

The gilded design of the buildings shows just how financially prosperous this nation is, even compared to my own homeland, which is no slouch when it comes to wealth.

Indeed the center of pleasure and luxury of Gearth, to Baldurians, it seems that the war between Regeinland and Veralia is nothing more than a faraway dream against the backdrop of their laidback and decadent lifestyle.

To my pleasant surprise, there are countless tourists from the empire and kingdom, and even they don't seem to mind the conflict at all.

They are all here to enjoy their vacation and holiday, so they interact rather amicably with their royal and imperial counterparts.

The atmosphere here is so welcoming and light. I just can't help but immerse myself with the trappings of luxury, even if I don't have money in my pocket right now to indulge myself with such things.

Like the rest of my crew, we don't have any salary, understandably, and I doubt we will receive anything unless we sort things out once we reached our homeland.

We decided last night in a martial meeting with all the crew of Rigel that we would surrender ourselves to the kingdom instead of allowing the empire to either destroy or capture us.

All of us are Regainlanders first and foremost, and renegades we may be in the eyes of our army, it is our sworn duty to stay loyal to our king until the very end.

They didn't know that I plan to take all the responsibilities of our actions until the point of our surrender to save their lives and future.

"Look out!"

Someone grabbed my arm suddenly, and before I can even react, an eighteen-wheeler cargo truck zoomed past to where I was about to step into just now.

I just realized that I was about to cross the pedestrian lane when it is not allowed yet in my deep thought.

"Are you suicidal or what?!"

I turned around and saw a boy around the same age as I am looking rather shocked and disgruntled by my apparent lack of emotions and proper reaction.

"I'm sorry," I replied quietly as he pulled me far away from the sidewalk and under the shade of a tree as several onlookers called a traffic enforcer and medic on our location.

My savior turned to meet the worried officer and grinned boyishly, "Nothing to worry about, sir! My fault I left my companion wandering around while I am looking for the nearest restaurant. He is fine, as you can see. Ignore the blank look. That's one of his charms, especially when he is hungry."

Thankfully the officer fell for his excuse, "An imperial and royal together freely on our streets? Now that is something we are proud of. I hope you two will enjoy the rest of your stay here and be careful next time. Try the Aquaria Hotel. Their fine dining is excellent."

"Will do, sir!"

The traffic enforcer, together with the medic who checked me for any injuries and just gave me a pill for shock, left without so much as a wave of a hand.

He then returned to my side and put his arm on my shoulders, but I flinched, "Act like we're lovers unless you wanted to be charged with disturbance of public order," he whispered as we walked towards an expensive-looking hotel. That medic put a tracker on you, and you haven't even noticed."

I looked down and saw that in my right wrist is a relatively simple-looking white band with the emblem of the principality police department.

"Table for two. Somewhere secluded if you can wring it."

"Right this way, sir."

I didn't even realize we are already inside the hotel restaurant being guided by a valet to a table located at the far corner of the half-full dining area.

He pulled a chair for me, to which I gratefully accepted and reclined before closing my eyes.

What the hell happened again?

"Two glasses of your finest wine will do, for now, thank you," my companion said to the valet who bowed and immediately left as he looked in my direction, "Regainlanders are not known for being absentminded fools. That's our job as Veralians. So what the heck is wrong with you?"

I blinked at him, and I just realized how handsome he is.

Crew-cut hair, strong jaw, long pointed nose, and thin pink lips. He has deep-set piercing eyes and the face of a well-cultured person.

Judging by the way he sits, he is from a military background. Broad shoulders, lean but muscled arms, and rugged hands.

Probably the worst possible person I should be right now.

The officer said he is imperial.

I tried to stand up, but his angry gaze forced me to involuntarily return to my seat, "Leaving so soon when our wine has just arrived?"

The valet put down a bottle of expensive vintage wine before us and left abruptly when he felt that we are in an argument or something.

"I'll just pay if that's what you want," I answered angrily as I grabbed my pocket before remembering that I don't even have a wallet because I don't have a single cent at all.

The payment scheme for the royal soldiers is annually given, and that means I am penniless.

"Turning pale. Let me guess, you forgot your money as easily as you forget basic self-preservation," he said in disbelief as if he can't believe someone as absent-minded as I exist, "Well, no leaving for you then. Not until we finish our lunch. I am famished and to tell you the truth, I am really looking for a place to eat. So if you don't want me to make a scene, you will have to be my date, and I will pay for everything, deal?"